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 Double Jeopardy/Shame Egypt: 50 Suspected as Gay Males are Facing July 2 Trial Use these E-mail Addresses, Telephones & Fax Numbers |
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Compiled by GayToday International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission
Cairo, Egypt--The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) has learned that the Egyptian government has decided to retry 50 of the defendants in the "Cairo 52" case. The new trial begins July 2, 2002.
The State-controlled daily newspaper, ^Al Ahram~ announced the decision on June 23. Those who were acquitted, as well as most of those convicted, in the 2001 trial will now reportedly face the same ordeal again. The men who were once fortunate enough to be freed could well be sent to prison this time. A new cycle of injustice and abuse is underway. The "Cairo 52" were arrested on or around the night of May 10/11, 2001. That night, police raided the Queen Boat discotheque in Cairo, believed to be a gay men's gathering place; other police pickups followed in the next days. The 52 were tortured in detention, and jailed continuously until their trial. IGLHRC is urging immediate letters to Egyptian officials as well as U.S. and European leaders to protest this renewed blow at justice and due process. Double jeopardy is a double shame on Egypt's record. Sample letters as well as names and addresses for contacting Egyptian officials or U.S. or European officials may be found below. They clarify the serious nature of Egypt's human rights violations. Direct Action: Egyptian Officials: Sample Letters & Contact Information Send this sample letter for Egyptian officials to the addresses that follow. Egyptian government offices frequently change e-mail addresses in response to protests. IGLHRC thanks any activists who can keep us updated with correct ones.) Sample Letter to Egyptian Officials: Your Excellency: I am shocked to understand that your Government has decided to retry 50 of the 52 defendants who were arrested on or around the "Queen Boat" discotheque in May, 2001. Those who were found innocent as well as those found guilty will be subjected to the indignity of a new trial. The upcoming trial, beginning on July 2 at the Qasr-al-Nil Court of Misdemeanors, will only redouble the injustices inflicted on these men. Moreover, it will violate the protections of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights( ICCPR)--which affirms in its Article 14.7 that "No one shall be liable to be tried or punished again for an offence for which he has already been finally convicted or acquitted in accordance with the law and penal procedure of each country." As you know, your government ratified the ICCPR in 1982. Twenty years later, Egypt shames its international reputation by disregarding its solemn promises. I am further shocked the convictions of two men in the same case who were found guilty of "contempt of religion" have been allowed to stand. The use of this law in Egypt against people exercising freedoms of assembly and expression, as well as the fundamental liberty of conscience and belief, has been condemned by the world community. As you also know, on May 19, 2002, A.M.S., a 19 year-old man, was arrested in Qasr-al-Nil for allegedly arranging a meeting with a man based on an Internet conversation--a man who was either an undercover policeman or an informer. On June 8, in the Abdeen Court of Misdemeanors, A.M.S. was sentenced to 3 years in prison under Law 10/1961. His case shows again that the persecution of suspected homosexuals did not end with the "Cairo 52" case. Yet your government is determined that the "Cairo 52" case itself will not end. I urge you to call a halt these trials, to meet your obligations under the ICCPR and international law. Pardon the 52 defendants. Ensure that A.M.S. is freed. Ensure that all persons now imprisoned or facing trial under Article 9(c) of Law 10/1961 are immediately released, and that this repressive law is repealed. End the persecution of people for the exercise of their freedom of conscience and belief. Sincerely, To U.S. and European Officials: Dear I write in grave concern that the Egyptian Government has decided to retry 50 of the 52 defendants who were arrested on or around the "Queen Boat" discotheque in May, 2001. Egypt announced this decision on June 23--showing that President Hosni Mubarak's recent promises of leniency were only a cynical show. The new court hearings will begin on July 2. Those who were found innocent as well as those found guilty will be subjected to the indignity of a new trial. The upcoming trial will violate the protections of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights( ICCPR)--which affirms in its Article 14.7 that "No one shall be liable to be tried or punished again for an offence for which he has already been finally convicted or acquitted in accordance with the law and penal procedure of each country." Egypt ratified the ICCPR in 1982. Twenty years later, it shows its contempt for its provisions. In another disturbing case, on May 19, 2002, a 19 year-old student, A.M.S., was arrested by the Vice Squad in Cairo. He had allegedly arranged a meeting with a man he chatted with over the Internet--a man who was either an undercover policeman or an informer. On June 8, A.M.S. was sentenced to 3 years in prison. In a recent interview, the head of Egypt's Vice Squad cited at least 19 suspected homosexuals entrapped over the Internet, and added, "It was great arresting them." I urge you to call on President Mubarak to ensure that all arrests and trials for consensual homosexual behavior in Egypt cease. All the "Cairo 52" defendants should be set free. Those defendants who were also charged with "contempt of religion" should be released as well: Egypt must affirm its commitment to respect freedom of conscience and belief. A.M.S. must be released from prison. And all others who are imprisoned or facing trial for suspected homosexual conduct should be freed, or see their charges dropped. Sincerely, Egyptian Officials: E-Mail Addresses, Telephones, Faxes His Excellency, President Mohammad Hosni Mubarak E-mail: webmaster@presidency.gov.eg His Excellency, Counsellor Farouk Seif Al Nasr, Minister of Justice E-mail: mojeb@idsc2.gov.eg Mr Ahmed Maher Al-Sayad, Minister of Foreign Affairs E-mail:ForMin@idsc.gov.eg (if not working, try minexter@idscl.gov.eg) And write or call Egypt's Embassies abroad. If your country is not in the list below, go to http://www.mfa.gov.eg/missions_a.asp?id=0505 to find contact information. AUSTRALIA Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt Tel: (62) 273-4437/8 Fax: (612)62734279 AUSTRIA Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt egyptembassyvienna@egyptembassyvienna.at BRAZIL Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt Tel.: (5561) 323 8800 Fax: (5561) 323 1039 E-mail: embegypt@tba.com.br CANADA Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt Tel: (613) 234-4931 / 35/58 Fax: (613)234-9347 E-mail: egyptemb@sympatico.ca FRANCE Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt Tel: (33) (1) 47 20 97 70 / 47 20 75 97 Fax: (33) (1) 47230643 TELEX 645297 E-mail: boustane.paris@free.fr GERMANY Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt Tel.: (4930)4771048 - 4771250 Fax: (4930)4771049 E-mail: Egembassy@hotmail.com INDIA Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt Tel.: (9111) 6114096- 6114097 Fax: (9111) 6885355 E-mail: egyembindia@vsnl.com SOUTH AFRICA Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt Tel.: (2712)3431590/3431591 Fax: (2712)3431082 TURKEY Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt Tel.: (90312)4684647/4261026/4266478 Fax: (90312)4270099 E-mail: egankara@yahoo.com UNITED KINGDOM Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt Tel: (44) 020 7499-2401, 020 7499-3304 Fax: (44) 020 7355-3568 / 491-154 E-mail: etembuk@hotmail.com UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt Fax: 202 244 4319 E-mail: Egypt-embassy@usa.net Contact U.S. Officials:
Write the Secretary of State: Please also send an e-mail to Secretary of State Colin Powell at secretary@state.gov. A sample letter (to European/US officials) is below. Contact European Officials: Write to the following officials of the European Union and its member states. Send the sample e-mail found below. EUROPEAN UNION: Mr. Romano Prodi President of the European Commission E-mail: romano.prodi@cec.eu.int Mr. Christopher Patten Member of the European Commission, External Relations E-mail: christopher.patten@cec.eu.int Herr Elmar Brok, Chairman, European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security, and Defense Policy (Germany) E-mail: ebrok@europarl.eu.int Mr Geoffrey Van Orden, Vice-Chairman, European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security, and Defense Policy (United Kingdom) E-mail: gvanorden@europarl.eu.int FRANCE: M. Jacques Chirac, President of the French Republic Go to http://www.elysee.fr/ecrire/mail.htm and paste your message into the box M. Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Prime Minister Go to http://www.premier-ministre.gouv.fr/PM/MAIL.HTM and paste your message into the box GERMANY: Herr Gerhard Schroeder, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany E-mail: posteingang@bundesregierung.de, gerhard.schroeder@spd.de Herr Joschka Fischer, Minister of Foreign Affairs E-mail: poststelle@auswaertiges-amt.de UNITED KINGDOM: Rt. Hon. Jack Straw, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs E-mail: strawj@parliament.uk Or go to http://www.fco.gov.uk/feedback.asp and paste your message into the box |
